GEAR UP SWV school/county is hosting an event/workshop and wants local reporters/media to attend.
A GEAR UP SWV school/student/county has an exciting success story relevant to project goals such as FAFSA completion rates, etc.
A GEAR UP SWV student/school/county reaches an exciting milestone.
A GEAR UP SWV school/county is looking to engage parent/guardians to actively participation in an event

Submit Updates to GEAR UP SWV website at concord.edu/gearup

Request an update to the GEAR UP SWV website, www.concord.edu/gearup with the “Communications & Promotional Request” form.

Some examples of when to use the Website Update Request form include the following:

GEAR UP SWV school/county is planning a yearly program for students and you want to share FAQs about the program.
Contact information to organizations that provide resources to GEAR UP SWV students and families in your region.
Yearly professional development opportunities for GEAR UP SWV teachers.
If you find typos or confusing information on the concord.edu/gearup page.

Share #GEARUPSWV Images on Social Media

While participating in GEAR UP SWV activities we encourage LCs to share images of the experiences. Here’s some things to keep in mind while taking the images.

Take pictures of smiles and activity at the event.
Try to include everyone in at least one image.
Ensure each image includes students who have permission to be photographed. (Check with GEAR UP SWV Local Coordinator to ensure proper identification)

There are three ways to get involved in the #GEARUPSWV social media buzz.

Share on your county / school pages using #GEARUPSWV in text.

- Ensure each image includes students who have permission to be photographed. (Check with GEAR UP SWV Local Coordinator to ensure students have permission to be photographed.)
- Share approved images with your county or school social media representative to post on their respective pages.
- Include the following details with the representative:
- Date (can be month or even season)
- Name/Description of the event
- Why it’s a GEAR UP SWV event. Share brief statement of why this event is important for the GEAR UP SWV. (Think GEAR UP SWV goals/objectives.)
- Include #GEARUPSW (This will connect the post to the project conversation.) Include hashtag #GEARUPSWV with a post at your school or county’s page and the content could be shared on the GEAR UP SWV central social media pages.

2. Submit images to GEAR UP SWV social media main pages

- Ensure each image includes students who have permission to be photographed. (Check with GEAR UP SWV Local Coordinator to ensure students have permission to be photographed.)
- Submit your images to GEAR UP SWV via messenger on Facebook – GEAR UP SWV
- Include the following details:
  - Date (can be month or even season)
  - Name/Description of the event
  - Why it’s a GEAR UP SWV event. Share brief statement of why this event is important for the GEAR UP SWV. (Think GEAR UP SWV goals/objectives.)

3. Submit images and captions using the “Communications & Promotional Request.”

Ensure each image includes students who have permission to be photographed. (Check with GEAR UP SWV Local Coordinator to ensure proper identification)
Include the following details:
- Date (can be month or even season)
- Name/Description of the event
- Why it’s a GEAR UP SWV event. Share brief statement of why this event is important for the GEAR UP SWV. (Think GEAR UP SWV goals/objectives.)

Images could be used on the following sites:

(Be sure to give the pages a follow to stay up on upcoming dates and see what’s happening in the GEAR UP SWV community.)

Some examples of when to share images to county/school pages and/or via messenger include:

GEAR UP SWV students/school/county attends a college for a visit
GEAR UP SWV students/school/county hosts a program/event without media coverage
GEAR UP SWV student wears a shirt with a college on it
GEAR UP SWV students celebrate FAFSA Day
GEAR UP SWV students celebrate First Generation College Student Day
GEAR UP SWV students celebrate National GEAR UP Week

**Always make sure students have permission to be photographed before sharing images.**

Submit Content for What's Up in GEAR UP SWV - digital newsletter

Request information from your school or county to be shared in the upcoming What’s Up in GEAR UP SWV Digital Newsletter by filling out the “Communications & Promotional Request.”

Some examples of information that Local Coordinators or District Liaisons can submit include:

GEAR UP SWV student profile submission
Introduction to GEAR UP SWV student leaders
GEAR UP SWV student essay to reflect on GEAR UP SWV event(s)
Outstanding LC achievement
Sharing a momentous achievement
Invitation for other schools to attend an event
Call for help/assistant/collaboration with an upcoming GEAR UP SWV project
Outstanding student achievement due in part to GEAR UP SWV work
Back to school memos
Winter break memos
End of school year memos

(Catch up on the latest What’s Up in GEAR UP SWV Digital Newsletter.)

Please note that each submission is a request and might not be featured in the next edition. Email gearup@concord.edu with questions.

National GEAR UP Week 2024 Toolkit

Promote your National GEAR UP Week events with the GEAR UP SWV National GEAR UP Week 2024 Tool Kit!

The kit can include:

2024 National GEAR UP Week Poster Contest Criteria and Information
GEAR UP Fact Sheet (For Poster Contest Reference)
Daily Dress Up Themes Flyer (.pdf file)
Daily Dress Up Themes Social Media File (.jpg file)
GEAR UP SWV Logo
National GEAR UP Week Planning Template
And more!

Scan for 2024 Toolkit!

Communications & Branding - GEAR UP SWV

When referring to this program, GEAR UP SWV should be in all caps. Please note that GEAR UP should be named before SWV. Email GEAR UP SWV Communications Manager Jessica Lilly at jylilly@concord.edu or GEARUP@concord.edu with questions.